7th economic census launched in Karnataka
Bengaluru, Nov 6: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Wednesday launched the 7th economic census in the state that will be completely app based and provide insights into all economic activities and ownership patterns of businesses.
It is being conducted under the Joint Venture between Common Services Centres (CSC), along with state and central governments, and the information collected will be broadly used in planning and policy formulations, officials said.
"The economic census will help in knowing the reality of economic condition of the country and its results will act as a compass for the programmes that the government has to implement and framing of policies," Yediyurappa said.
Speaking after taking part in the census by providing his information to enumerators, he said the census being done through a mobile app was "praiseworthy" as it will help in quick collection of information and generating accurate reports.
Yediyurappa also asked enumerators to collect accurate information from people by taking them into confidence and also requested the public to extend their cooperation.
The economic census will be held in the state from November 15, 2019 to March 2020 under the aegis of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
Under the census, enumerators will meet about 55 lakh households in urban areas and 82 lakh households in the rural areas of the state.
About 8,720 enumerators in urban areas and 30,000 in rural areas will work for the census along with supervisors.
Seventy officials from the central government and 258 from the state government have been appointed to supervise the exercise.
"During the census, information regarding activities in the organised and unorganised sectors and about people working in these sectors will be collected.
The information collected will help in framing of various policies," V Manjula Additional chief secretary DPAR (GOK) said.
Mobile phone application will be used to conduct the census to collect information, in partnership with CSC.
A K Toprani, Additional Director General at Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (GOI) said, Karnataka accounts for nearly five per cent of the total establishments at all India level.
"Economic census is population census plus.
In population census we will try and find out number of families and its members, while in economic census, we contact households, establishments, collect information from them and find out what are the entrepreneurial activities conducted across the state," he said.
He also said two surveys on annual basis have been planned for the year 2020-21 on the service sector and unincorporated sector to know more in detail about the economic activities.
Vijay Kumar, Director General at the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (GOI) said the history of economic census in the country was more than four decades old
The first such census was held in 1977 and later in 1980, 1990, 1998, 2005 and 2014.
The present census was the first of its kind in many ways as it is done through mobile app, he said, adding that the field work has already started in 22 states and Union Territories.
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Police acted proactively in arrest of rape accused 'godman' Kharat: Fadnavis
Mumbai (PTI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said the police acted proactively in arresting self-styled godman Ashok Kharat, accused of raping a woman in Nashik.
Several women were initially reluctant to come forward and lodge complaints, but were provided complete protection by the authorities, Fadnavis informed the state assembly.
More victims are expected to come forward as confidence in the investigation grows, he said.
Kharat, who claimed to be a retired Merchant Navy officer and was known as "captain", was arrested on March 18 for rape and other offences on the complaint of a 35-year-old woman. She alleged Kharat raped her several times over a period of three years.
"The police trapped and proactively arrested Kharat. It is a very serious matter. He misused his so-called powers and misbehaved with women. Preparations to arrest him had been underway for some time," CM Fadnavis said.
Around March 10, a complaint registered in another district was used by the police to initiate action against Kharat. A look-out circular had already been issued to prevent him from fleeing the country, Fadnavis informed the assembly.
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The chief minister said he would make a detailed statement on the case in the House on Tuesday and asserted that no one would be spared.
Earlier, Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar termed the case a blot on Maharashtra and alleged that women were exploited by Kharat and other such people. He demanded the immediate removal of all those allegedly involved, including ministers and senior officials.
Opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Bhaskar Jadhav claimed the case involved some ministers as well as senior IAS and IPS officers, and said the House had the right to discuss the matter. He alleged that the government had previously attempted to suppress a similar case in Nashik without conducting a proper probe.
Jadhav criticised the ruling dispensation, saying those in power invoked the name of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj but failed to follow his principles.
Several political leaders had visited Kharat over the years, allegedly for seeking spiritual advice.
The government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case.
The woman in her complaint to Nashik police alleged that Kharat called her to his office in 2022 on the pretext of performing rituals to avert danger to her husband, administered a sedative-laced drink and raped her. She alleged repeated sexual assault over a period of three years.
The police have seized CCTV DVRs from Kharat's Mirgaon farmhouse, Tikde Colony bungalow and Canada Corner office as part of the probe into the case.
Kharat is named in several cases filed at Vavi, Shirdi and Sarkarwada police stations for alleged extortion, blackmail, rape and black magic practices, officials earlier said.
Investigators were reaching out to potential victims and more cases were expected to be registered against Kharat, they added.
